Among the 120 soldiers set to receive the President’s Excellence Award at Israel’s annual Independence Day ceremony, several stand out for a deeply personal reason. Seven “lone soldiers” who made aliyah through the Tzofim Garin Tzabar program have been selected after leaving their home countries to enlist in the IDF during wartime.
“Lone soldiers” is a term used in Israel to describe service members who do not have immediate family in the country.
One of them is Cpl. T., 20, from Jerusalem, who serves in the Etzion Regional Brigade in the West Bank. She moved to Israel from Hong Kong at age 16 and formally made aliyah at 18. She participated in the Naale youth immigration program and attended a religious high school.
T. said she always planned to enlist. Her mother is Israeli, and the family visited the country every summer, making it feel like home. That connection deepened after the October 7 attack. Her younger sister later followed her to Israel.
“For me, being named a President’s Outstanding Soldier is even greater than the dream I already fulfilled by moving here and joining the army,” she said. “It’s an honor that’s hard to describe, especially at such a challenging time for Israel and the Jewish people.”
Cpl. S., 24, who immigrated from Moscow about two years ago, will also receive the award. He said he moved out of a strong desire to be part of a country he loves and where he feels at home.
After previously visiting Israel, he chose to build his future here, immigrating on his own to start a new chapter in his life. He now serves in the military courts unit while navigating the challenges of adjusting to a new country and living independently.
S. holds a bachelor’s degree and is studying law alongside his military service. He is currently completing exams required for certification by the Israel Bar Association. “For me, true excellence is taking care of people and always being on the giving side,” he said.
Other honorees from the Garin Tzabar program include Officer Cadet A., who made aliyah after the October 7 attack and left her studies in the U.S. to serve in an international relations role; 2nd Lt. R., 24, who moved to Israel after completing a degree and now serves as a training officer; and Sgt. B., who also left his studies in the U.S. during the war to serve as a tank soldier.